The In Situ Optimization of Spinterface in Polymer Spin Valve by Electronic Phase Separated Oxides

• Published in: Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) Vol. 19; no. 40; p. e2303375
• Main Authors: Zhang, Cheng, Ding, Shuaishuai, Tian, Yuan, Wang, Jing, Chen, Yunzhong, Zhao, Tongyun, Hu, Fengxia, Hu, Wenping, Shen, Baogen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.10.2023
• Subjects: Electron spin; Ferromagnetism; Interdisciplinary studies; Magnetoresistance; Magnetoresistivity; Nanotechnology; Optimization; Phase separation; Polymers; Spin valves; Spintronics; polymer spin valves; perovskite oxides; spintronics; electronic phase separation; spinterface
• ISSN: 1613-6810; 1613-6829
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.202303375

Tailoring the interface between organic semiconductor (OSC) and ferromagnetic (FM) electrodes, that is, the spinterface, offers a promising way to manipulate and optimize the magnetoresistance (MR) ratio of the organic spin valve (OSV) devices. However, the non-destructive in situ regulation method of spinterface is seldom reported, limiting its theoretical research and further application in organic spintronics. (La Pr ) Ca MnO (LPCMO), a recently developed FM material, exhibits a strong electronic phase separation (EPS) property, and can be employed as an effective in situ spinterface adjuster. Herein, we fabricated a LPCMO-based polymer spin valve with a vertical configuration of LPCMO/poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT)/Co, and emphasized the important role of LPCMO/P3HT spinterface in MR regulation. A unique competitive spin-scattering mechanism generated by the EPS characteristics of LPCMO inside the polymer spin valve was discovered by abstracting the anomalous non-monotonic MR value as a function of pre-set magnetic field (B ) and temperature (T). Particularly, a record-high MR ratio of 93% was achieved in polymer spin valves under optimal conditions. These findings highlight the importance of interdisciplinary research between organic spintronics and EPS oxides and offer a novel scenario for multi-level storage via spinterface manipulation.